Method of and apparatus for blocking hats



May 12, 1931. M. MILLER 1,805,220

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BLOCKING HATS Filed July 11, 1928 INVENTOR. I @ym a [M ATTORNEY.

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Patented May 12, 1931 STATES hiAUE/ICE MILLER, 03: POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BLOCKING HATS Application filed July 11,

The object of this invention is to devise a novel and simplified method of and apparatus for blocking hats which can be economically iininufactured and which will enable the opcrator to refinish a hat so that it will be in substantially the same condition as a new hat.

This invention relates more particularly to the manner of blocking the crown and the brim.

lVith the above and other ob]ect-s in view, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, my invention comprehends a novel method of and apparatus for blocking hats.

it further comprehends a, novel method of blocking" the-hat brims wherein the brim is subjected to the action of the steam during the blocking and shaping operation, and at the same time the leather sweat band is protected and insulated from the action of the steam.

My invention further comprehends a novel hat blocking! machine wherein novel means are employed for treating the crown and novel means for treating the brim of the hat.

@ther novel featuresof construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings, a typical embodiment of it, which, in practice, will give satisfactory and reliable results. It is. however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and my invention is not limited to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hat blocking; machine embodying my invention and by means of which my novel method may be carried out.

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the crown kettle.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the brim treat'ng mechanism.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

' crown kettle 13.

1928. Serial No. 291,798.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates supporting standards having cross members 2 which support a bottom shelf 3. designates a table which is secured to the standards 1 in any desired or conventional manner. The table 4 has rising from it the posts 5 which support the shelves 6 and T which are adapted to receive the blocks 8. The upper shelf 7 is preferably provided with a back plate 9 on which can be indicated the name of the machine or any other desired advertising data.

10 designates a steam line which leads from a Source of'steam supply and which is L vided with a control valve 1 1. The mainsteam pipe 10 is provided with a branch pipe 12 which extendsup through the table top a and communicates with the interior of a This crown kettle, as seen in Figure 2, has a baffle 14- so that the steam will not impinge directly against the crown of the hat 15 which is mounted on the block 16. The upper edge of the crown kettle 13 carries a. wooden rim 17 which supports the'hat 15 and the block 16 contained within the hat.

The branch pipe 12 is controlled by means of a valve 18 which is connected by means of a link 19 with a rod 20 which latter, atits lower end, is secured to a foot treadle 21. pivotally supported at 22 on the shelf 3. The main steam pipe 10 leads by pipe 23 to the brim treating member 24 and extends through the table a so as to support the brim steaming member. The steam line 10 is we vided with a valve 25 which controls the p-assage of steam to the brim treating member 24. A link 26 has one end, connected with the valve 25 and its opposite end is connected with a rod 27 which is connected to a foot treadle 28 pivotallysupported at 29 on the shelf 3. r p

The brimtreat-ing member 24: is in the form of a casing having an internal chamber 30 and having its central portion downwardly curved as at 31 and its top face is substantially flat as at 32 and is provided with a desired number of steamports 33. J

The purpose of the downwardly curved position 31 is to prevent the sweat band of the hat being subjected t'o'the actionpf the steam and heat. If the sweat band is subjected to the action of steam it will be dried out and shrivel up, and it would be necessary to replace the sweat band with a new one.

In practice, I preferably employ a drainage conduit 34 which communicates with the bottom of the chamber 30 of the brim treating member 24 and with the lower end of the chamber of the crown kettle 13 in order to permit the water of condensation to drain away. This drainage conduit 8-1 may lead to any desired point of discharge.

In the operation and in the carrying out of my novel method, the hat first dry cleaned or cleaned by any other desired or conventional method. The hat isthen placed on awooden block 16 of the proper size and with the block. is placed rip-side down in the crown kettle 13. The operator then presses down *ardly the foot treadle 21 to open the valve 19 and permit the steam to pass through the steam pipe 10 into the crown kettle 13. As the steam enters this kettle. it strikes the bafile 14 and directed outwardly so that the hat is not subjected to the direct pressure of the steam.

The steam is left on for a desired interval until the crown of the hat has been sul jected for the necessary period to the action of the steam. The hat with the block within it is then taken from the crown kettle and the crown is brushed and moulded while hot until it fits the block. This can be done by means of the hand or by the use of a lure of any desired character, such as for example, the tollickers, which are usually employed.

The hat then stripped from the block 16 and placed on the brim treating member 24 and the treadle 28 is depressed to open the valve 25 and permit the steam to pass into the chamber 30 of the steam kettle. The brim is brushed and moulded to shape with wooden tools while in a heated condition due to the action of the steam, and it is then removed from the brim treating member and allowed to cool.

' In accordance with this invention the hat can be accurately moulded to the desired shape so that it will be in substantially the same condition as when it was first manu factured.

During the treatment of the brim with steam, the steam can not enter the chamber of the hat since the depressed face 31 is imperforate and is a suflicient distance from the head receiving opening of the hat to prevent the sweat band from being affected by the steam which is being used to treat the brim.

In so far as I am aware, I am the first in the art to provide a brim steam table for the treatment of the brim of the hat in which the sweat band is insulated or protected from the action of the steam passing to the brim.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and useful method of and apparatus for blocking hats which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that this embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In ahat blocking machine, a table, shelves carried thereby, a brim treating member above said table comprising a chambered casing having the central portion of its top face imperforate and the portions surrounding said imperforateportion apertured, and means under the control of the operator to pass steam to the chamber of said casing.

2. In a hat blocking machine, a brim treating member comprising a casing having an internal chamber, the outer face of which is inwardly deflected and imperforate at its central portion and apertured at the portions surrounding said central portion.

MAURICE MILLER.

In Mar) 

